I Should Be Sleeping

I had trouble falling asleep. Too many things on my mind. Too many concerns about the coming days. Most of the time I can push them aside long enough to grab a little shut eye. This time it was tougher. I rolled around for a while, got up, did a few sets of push ups and then lay down long enough to pass out.

That was a little after 1 am. Around 4 am I woke up. Daughter was crying. Went to her bedroom and discovered that the monsters had encircled her bed. Dad is the dragon killer. Beat up all of the monsters and found out that no matter how many times I punched them in the nose they kept coming back.

Took daughter in my arms and walked for a bit. With her head on my shoulder I wandered through the dark house and wondered when she stopped being the baby. It was a while ago. She is a little girl now. A little girl with long dark curls and serious eyes that explore the world. Gentle snoring told me that I must have finally beaten back the hordes so I carried her back to her bedroom.

For a moment I held her and listened to her breathing. It was peaceful, relaxing. It reminds me of who I am and what purpose I serve. Not the only purpose, but one that transcends myself.

There in the dark I whispered I love you and placed her in back in her bed. Standing above her bed I looked around to be certain that the monsters really were gone. Fathers are always on alert. If need be I'd become a one man wrecking crew.

Tried to go back to sleep and just couldn't find my way home. It is going to hurt later on. I can't live off so little sleep. Not anymore. Too many weeks of haunting the midnight hours is going to catch up with me. The vampires of the neighborhood recognize me. They have seen me go traipsing by too many times not to. They leave me alone, recognize that I am not in the mood for conversation.

So here I sit in the darkened room, the computer monitor serving as the sole illumination within the room. Alone in the dark with my thoughts. Here I sit pondering the next steps and best ways to go about my business. I feel alive, but wish that I was asleep. I am babbling, rambling away at the keyboard.

It is hot inside this house. I am sweaty. I am grumpy and I am still wondering whether I should go sit out in the cool night air and await the sun. A cup of coffee, an iPod and some moonlight beckon. Flashes of memory remind me of things that have been and hint at possibilities of what could be.

It is Elul. The new year approaches. Who will live and who will die. What waits for me on the other side. I feel its presence. It leaves me....wondering.

Vocabulary Time Part 3

It is vocabulary time again. Here is part one and part two.

Jack·pud·ding
n.A merry-andrew; a buffoon.

Job·ber·nowl
n.[OE. jobbernoule, fr. jobarde a stupid fellow; cf. E. noll.]
A blockhead.

nikhedonia

[fr. Nike, the Greek goddess of victory + hedoné, pleasure] the pleasure derived from anticipating success

quidnunckery

[fr. L. quid nunc, what now] nonce-word curiosity, love of news or gossip (also quid-nunc-ism)

Time To Play Tetris

What a Waste Of Time and Money

In an earlier post I mentioned that thanks to my close personal relationship with the good old almighty I am receiving instructions from the big man. He told me that I am to share the story of the foolish high school girl with you.

As she stepped to the microphone to give her commencement speech last spring, Erica Corder knew that what she was about to say might ruffle some feathers.

But the 2006 Lewis Palmer High School graduate ? one of 15 valedictorians who addressed the crowd ? didn't believe she had a choice.

"I really felt God calling me to do this," Corder said Thursday. "My top priority is obeying God."

G-d told me to tell you that you're making this up as you go along. You knew full well that you would get in trouble. He is quite angry that you're wasting time and money to try and prosecute a losing case.

So Erica Corder thanked all the teachers, parents and peers in the crowd for their encouragement over the years.

Then, deviating from the 30-second speech that had been approved by the principal, she began speaking about "someone who loves you more than you could ever imagine."

"His name is Jesus Christ," Corder said. "If you don't already know Him personally I encourage you to find out more about the sacrifice He made for you ..."

The approximately 30-second speech sparked an immediate controversy.

Parents and students including some of her fellow valedictorians complained that Corder had been proselytizing, and that her comments were inappropriate for the occasion. She also took heat from school officials for deviating from the pre-approved script.

Now that the moment has passed and I am back to being me I'll insert my own commentary. This is not a typical free speech case. We could spend time talking about why public schools are not subject to the same rules as other places or why free speech is not absolute.

But the thing is that we really don't have to go there. She knew in advance that she was going to create a problem. She knew that what she wanted to do was out of line. Call it civil disobedience, call it ignorant. The bottom line is that she knew it wasn't approved and she did it anyway.

Now Corder is fighting back.

In a lawsuit filed in federal court this week, Corder says the Monument high school violated her rights to free speech and equal protection.

Corder's father, Steve, said Thursday the Corders are not seeking money other than attorney fees.

This irritates me on multiple levels. As a father you should teach your children to take responsibility for their actions. This doesn't do so. It was clear in advance that she knew that there might be consequences to her actions.

The district has a written policy titled "Student Expression Rights," according to the lawsuit. It prohibits expression that, among other things, is disruptive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous or threatens violence. It does not specifically prohibit religious speech, the lawsuit states.

The 15 valedictorians agreed before commencement that each person would speak for 30 seconds. Two people did the introduction, while others spoke about each year of high school. Corder and another student were tabbed to conclude the speeches.

Corder said the valedictorians had only a few days to prepare their speeches before they practiced them for the principal, Mark Brewer.

She knew she wanted to honor God in her remarks, but she didn't do so in her practice speech because she knew there was a chance Brewer would prohibit the comments, and because she didn't think there would be enough time to work through the issue with him, she said (Emphasis mine)

You knew that there would be consequences. You knew that there would be trouble but you did it anyway. And all that happened was a little slap on the hand. You had to issue a written apology for your actions. Big deal.

Reference: Prayer in School

One More Reason Not To Take Reuters Seriously

r- A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of having posted a video of himself on YouTube driving at speeds of more than 140 mph, police said Thursday.

The car, a Ford Escort, was filmed on the A76 single-carriageway road in southwest Scotland.

A Ford Escort going 140 MPH? I don't think so.

The Almighty Speaks To Jack

If you are of a certain age you may remember that when John Denver wasn't singing Rocky Mountain High or asking country roads to take him home he was engaged in a dialogue with the almighty, George Burns. Ok, it was a movie, or a couple of movies. I can't be bothered to remember everything. It is bad enough that I am asked to remind everyone that the Shmata Queen turns 50 tomorrow. (Hee hee, she is going to kill me.)

Let's get back the post at hand, or at keyboard as the case may be. Today was an ordinary day. Much like the rest of the week. I did my 10 mile run in less than 90 minutes, pumped iron for a couple of hours and managed dunk twice over three 20 year-old boys who still can't believe that an old man has crazy hops like me.

Inside the steam room I received direct communication from above. The Big Kahuna, Top Dog, The Man, the creator of the universe and master of time and space reached out and touched me. Understand that being touched in the steam room is disconcerting. When you are naked and walking amongst the people you aren't real interested in being groped, nor do you expect that you'll have an experience like Big Jake in which the almighty lays a hand upon your thigh.

There inside that steam room I was given a vision, testimony that I was commanded to present to the world. I was warned that my word would not be taken seriously and that some people would accuse me of being crazy. But in the presence of the steam that was not consumed I knew that I had received my calling and a duty that I couldn't forsake.

I am more than just the Bishop of Bullfrog. I am more than just Jack. That roar you hear isn't an airplane, it is not a big truck, it is the heavenly host telling you that you better damn well take notice of me. In the very near future I will be presenting you with the most important information you'll ever encounter.

For now I have been directed to visit the missionaries so that I can correct their behavior. Those who witness are being instructed to stop the trash talking. You got the message wrong. You blew it and now is your sole chance to redeem yourselves. Listen well, listen long and remember the words that I will present you.

I am the eggman, I am the eggman, I am the walrus.

Does Time Heal All Wounds?

Mama, take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark for me to see
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.
Knockin' on Heaven's Door-Bob Dylan

Nine years ago we buried one of my best friends. His yarzheit was August 25th. For those of you who are concerned, I don't remember what the Hebrew date is. I just know that it is close to Elul and that this has always affected me.

His death was a life changing experience. He wasn't the first friend that we lost. There were others that came before and after him. I don't mean to demean or marginalize the loss of the others. Should their loved ones ever read this I don't want them to feel badly. But they were different.

Car accidents, a bike accident, a couple of suicides took the others. Cancer took my pal away. It didn't happen over night. It was a process that took a while. In some ways it seemed like it took forever and in others it felt like forever. Each week there was a gradual deterioration of his abilities. The cancer didn't discriminate between cognitive or motor skills. It took huge bites out of all until there was nothing left to take. The giving tree was no more.

The first few years after his death were hard, far harder than now. It is not that I do not miss him, but I have grown accustomed to his absence. For a long time that bothered me. I felt like I was betraying his memory. If I didn't feel that searing sense of loss I'd wonder what was wrong with me. It took a while to realize that I was healing and to accept that it was ok not to miss him every day.

After a while it was normal not to think about him, to not wonder what sort of advice he might have offered, to not feel badly that he would never know the pleasure of being a father etc. Still I made a point of not missing his yarzheit.

Each year I would take a few minutes to think about him and appreciate all that I had learned and gained from our friendship.

This year was different. This year was different because I forgot about his yarzheit. It didn't even occur to me until today that I had. So I suppose that this is more proof that time heals all wounds. Yet I'd like to clarify that.

I may not feel that searing pain. The sense of loss may not be there, but the scars remain. There are moments when it is tough. There are times when I do very much wish that he was still here. When I get together with the crew there are moments that I look out at 35 or so kids and wish that his were playing with the rest.

There are those moments when the memories pop up. A dinner in Beverly Hills, a hike in the Sierras, flying over Catalina or walking down the street in Jerusalem. They're bittersweet memories. They're part of deep spiritual questions and tied into growth.

His loss changed me. It aged me. It made me question and wonder about things that I might not ever have. I don't want to belabor the point or make this post any longer than it is. All I know is that I wish the old bastard was here to argue with me because I miss my friend.

I miss my friend. How many times have I said that recently and how many more times will I have to say it. Every now and then I am amazed to hear someone say that they have never been to a funeral. I have been to more than twenty.

It is Elul and I feel unsettled.

Prayer In School

Prayer in school is a hot topic. It is a hot button issue that is regularly covered within and without the blogosphere. I have a number of posts that touch upon or discuss it. I'll provide links to some of those posts at the end of this one.

On a side note I have noticed that virtually every time I have run something about this subject my blog has been dropped from blog rolls. I don't expect everyone to agree with me. I don't need everyone to either. I find it somewhat telling and sad that some people find my position to be so offensive that they no longer want to visit. Mostly it is because they claim to be quite tolerant, but such is life.

The following are just some thoughts from the top of my head. This is not an attempt to prove the intent of the framers as being for or against, although if you want my opinion I think that they were at best neutral about it, if not downright against it. If they wanted the government to sanction prayer in school they would have specifically included it within the Constitution.

I am against organized prayer within public schools. Note that I said organized prayer. In concept, I am not against a moment of silence but I tend to be skeptical about whether people will truly be silent.

My concern about prayer in school is that it can be divisive, exclusionary and that some students may be ostracized because of their beliefs. Our schools should be havens of learning in which no one is targeted because their beliefs do not adhere to those of others. Organized prayer that is sanctioned by the school places these havens in jeopardy and infringes upon parental rights to instill values within our children.

In a Utopian society different views and philosophies are celebrated. However we know from painful experience that this is not the world that we live in. School children are subjected to tremendous social pressure to fit in and while it is noble and worthwhile to teach them to stand up for their beliefs this is not the situation in which to try and do so.

A belief in a particular religion is always rooted in faith that its tenets are true. Faith is the key word in that sentence. You cannot rely upon logic and reason to take you to the place in which an a consensus is reached about faith. This is a big hurdle.

If you note how many denominations of particular religions exist you can see how this exacerbates the situation. I know of Orthodox Jews who see the non Orthodox as apostates, evangelicals who consider Catholics to be idol worshippers etc. If you cannot find consensus among the believers of the same faith you are walking on thin ice.

Earlier I mentioned how organized prayer interferes with parental rights. It is something that I feel strongly about. My biggest job in life is to teach my children how to be menschen. It is a parent's obligation to instill values within our children. It is not the school or societies responsibility to teach them how to become good people. It is mine. This is a large part of why I make time for my kids.

I love my children and want them to be happy. So I provide them with structure, with guidance and with a framework that they can apply to life. The primary set of values is what they receive at home. It is nice for that to be supplemented by the school, but a public school shouldn't touch upon religion for all the reasons I mentioned above. There is strength in plurality.

Posts regarding Prayer in School and similar issues

You Live In A Christian Country- Deal With It
Stop The ACLU Coalition Nonsense
Religion In Schools
Prayer In School- Kentucky High School Shenanigan
Interfaith Relationships- Jews and Christians Misunderstood Again
Southern Baptist Bunk
Air Force Sued Over Religious Intolerance
Appeals court broadens prayer ban in Arkansas school district

On Deck: Prayer in School/ Children & Values

Hi Folks,

I have a couple of topics that I want to tackle. If I can find a few quiet minutes I plan on producing posts on Prayer In School and instilling values in children.

Stay tuned.

Don Corleone Meets Slash

What Is The Worst Job You Ever Had?

Friends, Readers, Lurkers and Bloggers, lend me your stories. I come to beg a boon of you. Please share with us the sad tale about the worst job you ever had.

The floor is now open.

10 Legendary Trips You Can Still Take

Forbes Travel has a list of adventures that I plan to take on.

Historic journeys from the Silk Road to the
Orient Express

With high-speed trains, fast cars and jumbo jets that can whisk us across time zones in a matter of hours, getting from point A to point B has never been easier (though we all know it’s not hassle-free). But with so much time saved comes the loss of something else—the idea that sometimes the journey is the destination itself. And there’s no better way to partake in what’s called “slow travel” than by doing it on a historic route.

With several notable treks, two-lane historic highways, and slow train lines from which to choose, where does one begin?

The granddaddy of all historic routes is, of course, the Silk Road, the famed network of old trading routes that connected China to the Mediterranean. Most 21st-century travelers don’t take the entire route, but do it in portions. That’s what longtime travel editor and writer Don George did. He trekked it through Pakistan and said it was one of the grandest trips of his life. “What could be more stirring than walking in the footsteps of Marco Polo and viewing ways of life that have changed little since his time?” says George, who runs the literary travel websites Don's Place and Recce.

Another highly recommended route comes from writer Tony Perrottet: the Athens-to-Olympia pagan pilgrimage path. “I’d advise driving it,” says Perrottet, who made the journey for his book about the origins of the Olympic Games, The Naked Olympics. Ancient Greeks would make the pilgrimage to Mt. Olympus just before the Olympics. “You end up in the mountains of Arcadia,” says Perrottet, “which are filled with shepherds and medieval monasteries—it’s a very magical place.”

For thousands of years, travelers have also been lured to the magic of the Nile River. The slow moving waterway makes the perfect venue for viewing ancient Egyptian wonders. According to Perrottet, the Romans were fascinated with cruising down the Nile, as were the 19th-century Victorian-era British who’d stop to gawk at the pyramids and mummies. Today, travelers can still cruise down the Nile, just like their British and Roman predecessors did.

For the full tale please click here.

CNN Buffoons Interview "Brave" Terrorist

You'll forgive me for calling journalists infantile and moronic but it is hard to read the sort of preening and fawning praise of a murderer that they presented here.

He then explained he was more than willing to discuss anything we wished, ranging from a captive Israeli soldier to the peace process to U.S. foreign policy.

The still abducted Israeli soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit, was a key part of the interview, and Meshaal was more than willing to talk about him.

"We did not blackmail Israel, and we gave free information to Gilad Shalit's father and his family that Gilad Shalit is still alive. When he asked us to bring him a medical glasses for his sight, we did so as humanitarian duty. We treat Gilad Shalit in a humanitarian way that is in line with the Palestinians' morals," he said.

Why didn't CNN ask him to clarify what he considers blackmail to be. Would it involve threatening to murder a captive if your demands are not met. This is so much claptrap and nonsense. But it is not as ridiculous as what follows.

Robertson began to ask about Hamas' view of the United States and the Bush administration's foreign policy. Suddenly, Meshaal hinted at a potential shift in Hamas' policy toward Israel. The slightest chance of change, of course, depends on events, according to the Hamas leader.

"Hamas changed a lot and great efforts have been made to conform with the realistic positions of Palestinians and Arabs. When Hamas says with other Palestinians forces that we demand for a Palestinian country as the border was back in 1967. Isn't this a development change?" he said.

You'd think that at this point CNN would be smart enough to ask if this means that Hamas has amended its charter. You know that little document that states:

"There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors."

Unfortunately it appears that they did not do so. All they did was nod and smile and provide a platform for a terrorist leader to spout off doctrine. Apparently they were too impressed to think.

Shortly after the interview began, the room filled up with his guards and those that work with Meshaal. They wanted to hear what he had to say as much as we did. In the middle of the interview, one of his guards handed him a cell phone. He had a brief conversation and apologized to us for the interruption.

"Who was that?" I asked one of my contacts.

The answer: "A very powerful Arab leader."

That sounds like a version of an old sales trick. Gee Mrs. Jones I'd sure like to sell you this house, but as you just heard me say, there are at least three offers for this house. I call bullshit. Don't tell me that it is a powerful Arab leader unless you can prove it. CNN made a mistake by not holding his feet to the fire about this.

And it just gets worse.

I must say it's difficult to truly enjoy your coffee when you know you're about to go to a place run by Hamas to meet a man who at any moment could be killed by Israel.

Did they not see what happened in Gaza. Did they not hear about the war between Hamas and Fatah. All they can do is worry that Israel might try to execute the murderer of innocents.

Watch him use the journalists to spread his propaganda.

The interview with Meshaal lasted around 90 minutes, but it seemed to fly by far faster.

He discussed the role of Saudi Arabia and how Hamas' relationship plays into wider regional politics, as well as his wish to speak to the West, to have peace talks and be invited to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice next month. He spoke of mistakes he believes the Americans have made -- especially not backing the Hamas government in Gaza, which was democratically elected -- and much, much more.

They never bother to question. They just accept his propaganda and feed it to the world. Somewhere Meshaal is smiling like the cat who ate the canary.

This just disgusts me. They should be embarrassed to have been so easily duped. It is just shameful.

Do You Force Yourself To Blog?

*Sticky Post*

Ok friends. It is time for a new question.

Do you have to force yourself to blog? Is blogging a chore, a responsibility or something that you do for fun?

For a list of posts that ask similar/related questions/comments about blogging try the drop down menu entitled BLOGGING on the right side of the page.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Haveil Havalim- The Corner Kick Edition

If you haven't dribbled over you don't know what you are missing.

Jewish boy served as Nazi 'mascot'

Ynet has an interesting story called Jewish boy served as Nazi 'mascot'.

Over 50-years after the Second World War came to an end, Alex Kurzem of Australia revealed to his family that he was a Jew who survived the war by being adopted by the SS at the age of five and becoming a Nazi mascot.

Kurzem, 70, revealed his story to his wife and two children in 1997, and now, 10 years later, a book entitled The Mascot and written by Kurzem's son Mark, has been published in London.

"Who would have believed such a story?" Kurzem told Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper over the phone Thursday night.

"Only after my son decided to dedicate himself to research did we realize that I was documented in Nazi propaganda ads and Nazi press and Nazi newsreels where the photographs appearing in the book were taken from. In newsreels I was nicknamed 'The Reich's youngest Nazi'."


Dressed in a little SS uniform and armed with toy gun, Kurzem looked like a real Nazi."Only one Nazi knew I was Jewish, and he made me swear not to tell," Kurzem said, "This was a daily struggle, because I was troubled by it every day. Luckily, I did not look Jewish, but more German than the Germans, and so, despite my fears, no one ever doubted my identity."

Kurzem's story begins in 1941, when his Belarusian village was invaded by Germany. The then five-year-old boy managed to escape the massacre, but witnessed the death of his mother and two siblings, along with the rest of the villagers.

The young boy wandered through the woods for nine months, surviving on wild berries and handouts, until he was handed over to the Latvian police brigades, which later became incorporated into the Nazi SS.

The Latvians were convinced Kurzem was a Russian orphan of German descent. "They were sure I was a German orphan, and that's why I deserved to become their mascot," he said.

Guaranteed To Add Three Inches

There are less painful ways to try to gain a few more inches. For example, you could put some lifts in your shoes or marry a shorter wife.

Jimmy Cox- First try

I have been to my share of AA meetings. Spent more than a couple of hours in smoke filled rooms listening to the tales of those in recovery and those who are still trying to recover. I have seen a man receive a chip for 50 years of sobriety and another for 5 years.

Some of those stories are just as sad as you can imagine. Tragedy and heartbreak bought and sold for two bits. Misery is a shared currency that can be traded and bartered for or so Jimmy Cox tried to tell me. Jimmy had all sorts of sayings. We used to laugh about it. One day we planned on using them to fill a book we planned on writing. It didn't have to make us rich or famous. It just had to serve as proof of a life that actually meant something.

Jimmy didn't have any illusions of grandeur. He was a simple man who had a simple disease. The biggest problem was that euphemism, simple disease didn't quite illustrate just how badly it could fuck it up your life. Jimmy had learned the hard way that he wasn't cut out to only have a couple of beers. He wasn't someone who could walk away from the table. Some people can. Some people can ignore the piece of cheesecake lying in front of them.

Jimmy couldn't. He used to say that it was part of his nature. There wasn't any challenge too big for him to take on. He couldn't find the man that was tougher than he was. And for twenty years he proved it. For twenty years he drank and fought his way through bars, restaurants, employers, wives and more than a couple of girlfriends.

In a different life Jimmy might have been an engineer or a teacher. In a different life he would have come home from work and not needed to take a shower. He had dark thoughtful eyes, a weathered, yet friendly face and a great smile. A fine sense of humor tempered by a fierce anger helped to round him out.

Greatest Hits Albums Are Just For Cash

At last I have found an article that says essentially what I have been saying for years now. Most of the greatest hits albums are nothing more than a cheap attempt to make a buck. I don't think that it was always this way.

Let me clarify that. I think that there was always a desire to make money off of the greatest hits, but it used to be that a band was around for a while. They had to stand the test of time before they could put out an album of so called greatest hits. That is not really the case anymore.

I thought that the following excerpt from the article was worth sharing as it sums much of this up.

Some greatest-hits records take on a life of their own -- like the Eagles' "Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)," which is the best-selling album ever in the U.S. Similarly, Bob Marley's "Legend" was (and still is) a sensation. At one point, it spent 106 straight weeks atop the Nielsen SoundScan catalog chart.

Other bands like U2 and Aerosmith have been criticized for their seemingly unceasing parade of greatest-hits albums. U2 followed 1998's "The Best of 1980-1990" and 2002's "The Best of 1990-2000" with 2006's "U218 Singles." Last year's "Devil's Got a New Disguise: The Very Best of Aerosmith" was the band's eighth compilation over the course of their 27-year career.

Back To School Time Makes Me Sad

Some people love this time of year. They enjoy all of the hustle and bustle surrounding back to school. If you ask them they'll give you all sorts of reasons why they do. They like the feeling of a new year, the appreciate the excitement of new challenges in school etc.

Not me.

I love summer. It has been my favorite time of year for as long as I can remember. The long summer days and cool summer nights always feel like they have so much potential. I love going to the beach and walking barefoot in the sand. I love the feel of the sun on my back. It makes me feel alive.

Back to school marks the beginning of the end of this time. The carefree attitude of summer is replaced by a more serious demeanor that I find ill fitting. Give me a choice between a suit and tie versus shorts and tank top and I'll go casual every time.

Sometimes I think that my life was meant to be spent living on a boat and just sailing around the world. But then reality hits me square in the nose and I know otherwise.

I'll hold onto my summer for as long as I can.

Vick admits dog killing, conspiracy

Michael Vick's saga is slowly coming to an end, at least the first part of it is. He is getting off relatively easy. By striking a deal he will avoid more serious charges. I am not convinced that he feels any remorse or understands why what he did was wrong.

(CNN) -- NFL star Michael Vick has admitted that he and his co-defendants killed dogs that did not fight well in papers filed on Friday with a federal court in Virginia.

In a plea agreement, Vick said he would plead guilty to one count of "Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture."

The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Federal prosecutors agreed to ask for the low end of the sentencing guidelines.

In an additional statement of facts, signed by Vick and filed with the agreement, Vick admitted buying the property that was used for dogfighting but said he did not bet on the fights or receive any of the money won.

"Most of the 'Bad Newz Kennels'' operations and gambling monies were provided by Vick," the official summary of facts stated. Gambling wins were generally split between co-conspirators Tony Taylor, Quanis Phillips and sometimes Purnell Peace, it continued.

"Vick did not gamble by placing side bets on any of the fights. Vick did not receive any of the proceeds from the purses that were won by 'Bad Newz Kennels.'"

Vick also agreed that "collective efforts" by him and two others caused the deaths of at least six dogs.

In about April of this year, Vick, Peace and Phillips tested some dogs in fighting sessions at Vick's property in Virginia, the statement said. "Peace, Phillips and Vick agreed to the killing of approximately 6-8 dogs that did not perform well in 'testing' sessions at 1915 Moonlight Road and all of those dogs were killed by various methods, including hanging and drowning.

"Vick agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the collective efforts of Peace, Phillips and Vick," the summary said.

Vocabulary Time Part II

It is Vocabulary Time Part II. The First edition can be found here.

de·fal·cate (dĭ-făl'kāt', -fôl'-, dĕf'əl-)
intr.v., -cat·ed, -cat·ing, -cates.

To misuse funds; embezzle.

Dac·tyl·on·o·my
n.[Gr. da`ktylos finger + no`mos law, distribution.]
The art of numbering or counting by the fingers.

re·cru·desce (rē'krū-dĕs')
intr.v., -desced, -desc·ing, -desc·es.

To break out anew or come into renewed activity, as after a period of quiescence.

vi·del·i·cet (vĭ-dĕl'ĭ-sĕt', vī-, wĭ-dā'lĭ-kĕt') pronunciation
adv. (Abbr. viz.)

That is; namely. Used to introduce examples, lists, or items.

Keywords- How You found Me

It is time for another roundup of keywords that led folks to the blog. Here is a partial list.

random thoughts
christian domestic discipline
birthday attack'
I wish I was a rabbi
song lyrics you're the prize in my cracker jack box
christian discipline
boys peeing standing up
most important Jewish holiday
if i am not for myself
funny actors in the 80's
how to teach a boy to pee standing
afraid my grandparent dying
is it ok to have sex with old lady
darren date china grill
shluchim
why is cleveland laughed
explaining death to children
elul; break sexual urge
do guys have emotions

Ofra Haza- Yerushalaym Shel Zahav & One Surprise

One of my favorite songs.



Ok, raise your hand if you were surprised to hear her sing this next song:

CNN's and Amanpour's biases

Elder of Ziyon has done a good job fisking Amanpour. Check it out here.

Bulletproof Baby

I stumbled onto Bulletproof Baby earlier today. At first I wasn't sure if it was a parody or not and then I realized that it was not. After reviewing it I have a few thoughts to share with you.

If you live in a place in which you need baby armor you probably should be trying to get out of there. A Riot Shield for the baby seems a bit over the top.

Overview:

The BPB Riot shield is an ultra light fully interlinking riot shield that allows an individual or formation to survive extreme attack from rocks, petrol bombs and shotguns. The line of interlinked shields gives a safe barricade behind which all the members of the family can hide in safety. In opposed house entry situations the linked shields give total overhead protection.
These shields out-survive older types many times over as they are exceptionally durable. Even after repeated axe and stone attack, the shield survives. We regularly test with huge axes against these shields. No other competitive design survives.

I must admit that it is easier for me to see the utility of the bulletproof stroller below.

Overview:

A must for mobile baby protection, the Heavy weight bulllet proof stroller provides 100% protection against all modern ballistics including Armor Piercing rounds. It’s heavy enough to maintain stability even under a heavy barrage, and yet has light steering enabling the stroller to turn on a dime if required. For the smart urban baby.. this stroller is the ultimate in style, comfort and extreme combat protection.

Maybe I am being a bit unfair, but it just seems like these items are a little bit out there.

Ozzy Osbourne- Disco King

How many people have heard Ozzy perform Staying Alive. Personally I think that this was better than some of Pat Boone's covers.

NAACP Official: Vick Persecuted Worse Than if he Killed a Human

Some people abuse language in terrible ways, but something tells me that RL White is not kidding when he says that Michael Vick is being persecuted.

R.L. White, president of the Atlanta chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said his organization does not condone dogfighting or any other illegal activity, but he told reporters that Vick should be given a chance to redeem himself.
“In some instances, I believe Michael Vick has received more negative press than if he would’ve killed a human being,” White said. “The way he is being persecuted, he wouldn’t have been persecuted that much had he killed somebody.”

I find it offensive to suggest that Michael Vick is being persecuted. He engaged in illegal activities of his own volition. But I must admit that I do agree that there probably more press about this than if he had killed or raped someone. It is kind of a sad thing. You never know what can happen, Ray Lewis is still playing.

Arabs Surf Israeli Porn Sites

Ynet is reporting a story that you probably will not find on Al-Jazeera.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict apparently does not disturb and even encourages Arab internet users from consuming kosher Hebrew porn. Operators of a number of porn sites report that between two and 10% of their users arrive from Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Jordan, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority. Some websites even go as far as offering services in Arabic.

Nir Shahar, who manages the Israeli porn website, 'Ratuv' (wet), said that his company produced porn movies that have typical Israeli themes featuring female soldiers, female Mossad agents and policewomen.

It turns out there is a high demand for such content even in countries that are defined as "enemy states." The most popular video clip among Arabs, "Code name: Deep investigation," is described as "a parody dealing with the Vanunu affair with agents investigating the affair using erotic means."

In the past several months we see an increase in traffic from countries that have no diplomatic ties with Iran , Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt," Shahar said.

Due to the demand, Shahar added an Arabic version of the site. "We received many thank you messages from Arab surfers. Many of whom asked if the female soldiers really serve in the IDF," he said.

For the full story please click here.

Jack And The Missionary Again

If you have spent any time around The Shack you know that I have had more than a few encounters with missionaries of all types. For those who are new here are some of links that you can use to catch up.

Jack And The Missionary
I am going to Hell or so you claim
She Wants to Save My Soul

Just to be balanced I should find the links about dealing with The Shluchim that have visited me here, not to mention Shmuley from the Kabbalah Center. Good old Shmuley who tried to strong arm me into giving him some kesef so that I could be granted deeper enlightenment. I don't take too kindly to that kind of behavior so you sometimes receive a strong response from me.

This afternoon I received a visit from a man who told me that he felt compelled to walk the neighborhood and visit his brothers, The Jews. If you show up at my door and say that you need to speak to me about The Jews you can guarantee that my bullshit meter has just gone to Defcon 1.

I don't know what it is about this time of the year, but I always seem to get a few right around now and September. Anyways, the fellow shows up at my door and asks if he can speak to me about giving money to an organization that helps people. That is a reasonable request and if that was all he had said things would have been fine. But it didn't stay there.

In a matter of moments he launched into this grand explanation about his real reason and need to visit his brothers, The Jews. As he proceeded to explain how he could help my family find a deeper purpose in life I cut him off. I was curt, but polite. He was undeterred and tried to explain to me that the world is full of signs of end times and that I am risking the souls of my children.

Missionary Man: Sir you realize that by not accepting the lord you are risking eternity.
Jack: I haven't any concerns.

Missionary Man: Don't tell me that you aren't worried about this.
Jack: I don't worry about fairy tales and nursery rhymes. When little Miss Muffet gets off of her tuffet and tries to kick my ass I might take it seriously.

Missionary Man: I find what you are saying to be quite troubling.
Jack: Do you think that my people killed your lord?

Missionary Man: Yes, but I don't hold you responsible for that.
Jack: How very kind of you. Now if you really believed that we killed G-d you'd better get moving before I turn you into some kind of serpent or send you someplace less comfortable, like cleveland.

Missionary Man: This is not right.
Jack: What's not right? That you come to my door and pretend that you are the only one who has a path to spiritual enlightenment or that I threatened to send you to some horrid location in the midwest.

Missionary Man: You're being rude and offensive.
Jack: Hello pot, this is the kettle, you're black. I can see from the look on your face that went right over your head.

Missionary Man: It did.
Jack: Has it ever occurred to you that the reason your job is so hard is because you are wrong or do they brainwash you into believing otherwise.

Missionary Man: I am not brainwashed. I know what I am saying.
Jack: Do you understand Hebrew or do you read a translation?

Missionary Man: I don't need to understand it. I read translations that were provided by scholars of great repute.
Jack: See, the reality is that you really don't know if what has been taught to you is accurate.

Missionary Man: I trust their scholarship.
Jack: Fine. I don't. I already know about the mistranslations and misinterpretations. I already know the responses that you'll give me and how to counter those. But why would I want to waste any more time.

Missionary Man: Your soul is not a waste of time.
Jack: These conversations are a waste of my time. You aren't going to convince me. I believe what I believe and you believe what you believe. Truth is that I feel a bit badly for trying to antagonize you.

Missionary Man: Make it up to me by listening to what I have to say.
Jack: Nice try. I don't feel that badly. Besides, I am still mulling over whether to turn you into a newt. See, I can't even pretend to be nice. Do you know what a blog is? I am asking because I am going to blog about this entire conversation.

Missionary Man: That is a violation of my privacy. I forbid you from doing so without my written permission and I deny you that.


Damn, the man denied me. Whatever will I do.

You Can Call Me Soccer Dad or Coach

This coming Fall the big boy is going to play another season of soccer. So once again you will be able to call me Soccer Dad. No, I am not this Soccer Dad. Those would be mighty big shoes to fill.

No, this year I am just an ordinary suburban father who is tasked with taking a group of seven year old boys and turning them into lean, mean, fighting machines. I rather expect that this experience should make good blog fodder.

And how sad am I that I look at everything I do and wonder if it is worth blogging about. Ok, that is an exaggeration, I don't get that obsessive about this, but it is not hyperbole to say that I think about blogging a lot. But this a topic for a different post.

For now we'll focus on the coaching. More on this later.

Big Brother In The Office

I find this sort of thing to be very troubling. I understand why companies try to protect themselves and I cannot say that I disagree with it....in concept. But there is a line that can be crossed and that bothers me.

"What I'm looking for is not so much someone sending out something intentional or volumes of info" inappropriately leaving the hospital, she says. "I'm looking at, is this a legitimate recipient?" Maybe an e-mail address was mistyped, for example, or one too many people was copied in on a spreadsheet with patient account numbers.

Such careful oversight is becoming more common. Many organizations, fearful that inside information can slip out through innumerable digital avenues, now govern precisely what employees can or cannot put into e-mails, instant messages, Web postings and even offline documents. But employers can't hold their workers' hands all the time -- so they're increasingly turning to software that tries to do it for them.

Offices have had strong computer controls for years, from inbound protections like antivirus programs to filtering technologies that block porn or Web e-mail sites. This new generation of software sticks its nose into even more of what people do all day.

For example, one communications-control vendor, Orchestria Corp., says its software could have prevented the CEO of Whole Foods Market Inc. from posting the rival-denigrating comments on Internet message boards that he later came to regret.

How so? Because Orchestria's software can be set to notice when certain keywords -- a competitor's name, for example -- are entered in documents or Web forms. The software can be set to block such actions or simply warn users that they're breaking company policy.

This fine-grained, automated monitoring is moving beyond highly regulated industries like health care and financial services thanks to a spate of new rules from government and the credit-card industry. Organizations also fear customer-account data breaches, insider thefts and other public-relations nightmares.

"The driver is ethics and reputation," says Joe Fantuzzi, CEO of Workshare Inc., whose software analyzes data-leakage risks. "Whether I'm regulated or not, I need to be seen as an ethical corporation. That affects my stock price, that affects whether customers are retained -- whether there's a leak or not."

These messaging-compliance technologies are still young. The Radicati Group, a technology research firm, estimates the market will ring up $670 million worldwide this year and more than triple in size by 2011.

Radicati analyst Masha Khmartseva says the technologies have some problems, including a tendency to mistakenly block or hold up too many items even if nothing in them flouts corporate policies. If an innocuous message is erroneously deemed sensitive and routed through an encryption server, the recipient has to spend extra time logging in to that server to retrieve the message.

Also, systems that warn employees if it appears they are about to send something possibly untoward -- say, the name of a product under development to a recipient outside the company -- can produce an annoying stream of pop-up messages, Khmartseva notes.

But get used to it.

"Very soon, everything is going to be controlled," Khmartseva said. "At least that's the idea. We'll see how it's going to happen."

Many of you are reading this blog from your office. It is quite likely that in many of those offices someone is receiving a report about your internet usage. They know where you went, when and for how long you were there.

As I mentioned above, I understand why companies want to protect themselves. I recognize their need to control information output and their desire to try and prevent employees from wasting time. Yet, there needs to be some understanding on behalf of the employee. Not everyone is trying to rob from the company. Not everyone is stealing time.

Don't Screw With An Elephant

PostSecret

Remember when I said that I was part of a team of bloggers writing secrets for PostSecret? Three of my cards are up this week. The person who correctly guesses which ones they are qualifies for a free waffle breakfast at The Muqata.

How To Fight A Polar Bear

SVALBARD, Norway, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Students in Svalbard, Norway, are taught how to use a shotgun and ammunition to fend off polar bears at the beginning of every school year.

Since polar bears can outrun a human in a matter of seconds, every student at the University Center undergoes weapons and arctic survival training, Aftenposten reported Monday.

“It's absolutely necessary,” said UNIS director Gunnar Sand.

The school loans weapons, ammunition, tents, sleeping bags, survival suits, snow scooters and other equipment out as well.

Polar bears are not the only thing that student have to worry about either.

"Polar bears are one thing," Sand noted. "Even more dangerous is the extreme cold, and the winds. There also are dangerous glaciers, steep cliffs, and it's a long way between settlements."

Is it just me, or does this school sound a bit dangerous.

If You Had One Day Left To Live

It is almost a cliche to ask people what they would do if they knew they only had one day left. I can think of more than one time in school in which one of my instructors used this as an exercise.

Pretend you only have one day left to live. Write a story about what you do etc.

I used to hate that kind of stuff. Ok, maybe hate is too strong a word, but it rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it is because when I was younger I believed in the invincibility of youth. Maybe that is why I couldn't or didn't take it seriously.

The thing is that I do take it seriously now. I have buried more than one friend. I have seen death come in various forms, cancer, airplane, car accidents, terrorism and war. It is a bitter education that I would have liked to avoid, but such is life.

So now I ask myself the question, if I knew that I only had one day left to live, what would I do? The answer is hard. I am not sure. I am torn. It is an internal struggle. The obvious answer is that I'd like to spend time with the people I love.

But that is not all. I think that I'd need to be outside. I'd want to go sit on a beach and listen to the roar of the ocean. I'd want to scale a mountain and look out on the valley below. I'd need to travel to the desert and look out on a vast expanse of sand. The end of Point Break comes to mind. ignore the bad acting and look at those waves.

One day left to live- what have I learned? What do I leave behind? What kind of legacy do I leave for my children. I ask myself all of these questions and so many more.

The more than I consider this, the more that I realize that I haven't nearly enough time. My life is going to be way too short to do everything that I need to do. I'll do my best to get it done. I'll try so very hard and I'll keep fighting, but sooner or later that guy with the scythe and I will have to meet in person.

The Final Goodbye

The last chunk of time has been rough. It has been hard for a whole host of reasons, but this evening the toughest was because I had to say goodbye to my pal.

Tomorrow morning he has an appointment with the vet. The family has agonized over this. We have spent a ton of time trying to make sure that we make the right decision. Every discussion with the vet has made it implicitly clear that there are no heroic measures to be taken.

That is not to say that there are not things that could be done, there are. At best they might extend his life by a few months, but they wouldn't add to the quality of his life and that is the crux of this matter. He is more than 14 years old and the body won't give of itself anymore.

So for the past few days I have spent as much time with him as I could. He can't chase me anymore. He used to love to fetch a ball. I could throw it a country mile and he'd go get it and bring it back to me. He has trouble doing the basic stuff now. I look at that majestic head and I can see the young puppy staring back at me. Dark soulful eyes look at you and you just know that he is waiting for a treat.

I feel guilty that I know what is going to happen. I feel like part of me is betraying him, but at the same time I don't feel right watching him struggle to get through the day. His breathing is labored and there are times where I swear it looks like he is already gone.

Yet there are moments where he fools me. There are moments in which he moves freely and issues that deep bark that always served notice of his presence. It is almost like he is hoping that this will be enough to gain clemency from the governor and gain a reprieve. If it made sense I would grant it. If I could turn back time I'd make him young again and we'd get more time together.

Fourteen years ago I was a single man and he was the one I'd share all my stories with. We'd take long walks at the park and wander the beach together. He has witnessed some of the biggest moments of my life. And all he has ever asked of me is a little food and companionship. It has been a good deal for both of us.

Tonight the children gave him an extra big hug goodbye and so did I. I bent down and rubbed his belly. I leaned over and made a point to smell him so that I would remember his scent.

I am going to miss my friend.

Michael Vick- Is Justice Being Served

(CNN) -- Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has accepted a plea deal that could send him to prison, ending a federal dogfighting prosecution that jeopardizes his pro football career, his lawyers said.

Vick will plead guilty to felony conspiracy next Monday, his defense attorneys said.

A status conference on the case is set for 3 p.m. Monday in U.S. District Court in Richmond, Virginia. The court's docket shows that Vick will appear again next Monday morning before Judge Henry E. Hudson for a plea agreement hearing.

The U.S. Attorney's office said it is not commenting. All news of the plea agreement came from the defense.

"After consulting with his family over the weekend, Michael Vick asks that I announce today that he has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors regarding the charges pending against him," lead defense attorney Billy Martin said in a statement.

"Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to those charges and to accept full responsibility for his action and the mistakes he has made. Michael wishes to apologize again to everyone who has been hurt by this matter," Martin's statement said.

Vick's attorneys have been negotiating with federal prosecutors over terms of the deal, which must be approved by the judge. While prosecutors can recommend a sentence, the decision ultimately rests with the judge.

The plea would help Vick avoid additional federal charges."

I'll update this in more detail in a little bit. Vick should be happy that he is not getting worse than this. On a side note, it is kind of sad to see such an outcry about dogfighting and athletes but domestic violence doesn't receive the same.

Israel and the double standard

Meryl caught my attention with her post Israel and the double standard. It refers to the recent story about Israel turning away some refugees from Darfur. Here is an excerpt:

It’s funny when you compare the response to stories like this, where a Hamas children’s program demonstrates cruelty to animals while ostensibly teaching children not to be cruel to animals, with the response to stories about Israel refusing to accept any more African refugees. The Hamas children’s show story got limited play, of course, while the Israel/Darfur story is already developing very long legs. The AP had constantly updating stories out on it over the weekend, and more today. The New York Times and the Washington Post have picked up the story and run with it.

I am decidedly torn about Israel’s response to these people. Some of them are refugees from Darfur. Others are simply people trying to find work and a better life for themselves. Still others are leaving Egypt because Egypt’s treatment of African refugees is despicable. They have beat and murdered refugees without compunction, and why wouldn’t they? The world stands by and ignores it, even when the AP puts a boilerplate into every one of its articles pointing out that the Egyptian police murdered 30 Sudanese when “clearing a refugee encampment.” Where is the UN Refugee Agency on this issue? Why no statements from the Secretary General demanding that Egypt follow international law and stop treating the refugees so cruelly? Where is the UN’s response to the Egyptian border police’s murder of Sudanese refugees trying to escape into Israel? How is it that those incidents pass relatively unnoticed by the world, yet Israel’s policy on refugees crossing the border from Israel merits over 400 articles now, double what it was yesterday, and five times the number of stories that went out about Hamas’ animal cruelty-slash-brainwashing video.

Once again, we see the world’s double standard for Israel—and Jews—in full swing. Because Jews suffered, they are obliged to never let other people suffer on their watch. Because modern Israel was created partly due to the world’s guilt over the Holocaust, Israel must rescue all the refugees from all violence all over the world—or so goes the current thinking. And it is right there in the lede of all the AP articles speeding ’round the world.

Go read the full post.

I am in agreement about how uncomfortable the situation is. In light of our experience it feels shameful to turn anyone away. I'd like to try and come up with a better situation. But as Meryl wrote, there is a double standard at work here. It is quite disgusting to see that there are people in the world who will let others die to try and make a point.

Humped To Death

There are many ways to die, but I never considered death by horny camel to be one of them. BTW, how do you become a camel expert.

(AP) An Australian woman was killed by a pet camel given to her as a 60th birthday present after the animal apparently tried to have sex, police said Sunday.

The woman, whose name was not released, was killed Saturday at her family's sheep and cattle ranch near Mitchell, 350 miles west of the Queensland state capital Brisbane, state police Detective Senior Constable Craig Gregory said.

The 10-month-old male camel — weighing about 330 pounds — knocked the woman to the ground, lay on top of her, then exhibited what police suspect was mating behavior, Gregory said.

"I'd say it's probably been playing, or it may be even a sexual sort of thing," Gregory said, adding the camel almost suffocated the family's pet goat by straddling it on several occasions.

Camel expert Chris Hill said he had no doubt the camel's behavior was sexual.

Some Assembly Required Part II

Last December I wrote a post about the joys of assembling toys. It easily could have included a bit about Ikea and their ilk. You haven't lived until you have tried to follow Olaf's instructions on how to build something that resembles the piece in the showroom.

I can remember more than one time in which I made plans to fly to Sweden to kick Olaf's Scandinavian ass. On a side note to the dear troll who is currently hiding here, that was an exaggeration. Or maybe it wasn't, maybe I believe that the Three Billy Goat's Gruff is a true story. Still, I digress.

The impetus for this post is a birthday gift my daughter received for her birthday. A Dora the Explorer bicycle. It is not the first time that I have had to put a bike together. I know my way around them and I know how to work with tools. I won't claim to be a master craftsman. A Jack of All Trades is an appropriate description.

So you would think that assembling a small bicycle should be relatively easy. No, no, no. Not this time. This time some jackass had the bright idea of taking the directions and playing with them. The illustrations were so blurry they were useless and the text made as much sense as the following sentence: I truck you backwards ass monkey in love with short man.

I take that back, that last sentence is easier to understand than the instructions. It took a while to get through it, but after a while I figured out that 97w69578905y30 means that they are discussing part x and that it was supposed to go into 9875896t7402 or part y. It really shouldn't be this hard to build it.

That is 45 minutes of my life I am not going to get back. Not quite as bad as being at a Barry Manilow concert and certainly less painful than setting foot in cleveland or detroit. But, good G-d man. What the hell is wrong with these people. Go take out your perverse pleasures with someone else who appreciates it.

In the meantime the daughter still considers dear old dad to be a hero, which is pretty damn cool. Now if I can wipe her memory clean of all the colorful language I used today just might be close to perfect.

Leningrad Cowboys & Russian Red Army Choir - SWEET HOME ALABAMA

This video is too rich to pass up. Hat Tip to Right Truth and Pink Flamingo Bar.

Does your life need a coach?

CNN is running an article about life coaches.

(CNN) -- "Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?"

It's one of those questions many job-seekers dread during an interview, but it can be daunting to answer on a personal level as well. Amid all your responsibilities, activities and projects, it's sometimes hard to see the big picture and easy to become overwhelmed or feel like you're lacking direction.

That's where a life coach can come in.

"If you are frustrated with an aspect of your life, not sure how to stop making the same choices you keep making or just want to have more happiness, peace of mind and passion -- life coaching can do that for you," says Rhonda Britten, founder of the Fearless Living Institute.

Life coaches can specialize in areas like relationships, careers or personal growth. They promise to motivate, offer support when clients need a boost in confidence and help them decide which direction to take.

"In a perfect world, everyone could figure this out for him or herself, but we live in such a complicated time ... that most of us need all the help we can get," says life coach Libby Gill.

I often joke about becoming a life coach or motivational speaker. It is not that I have complete disdain for these people, but I sometimes find it hard to take them seriously. And it is not that I feel like I am the perfect example of someone who hasn't any challenges. Anyone who reads the blog for any length of time knows that.

But, I sometimes wonder if some people choose the path of least resistance, if they abdicate responsibility by hiring one a coach. Maybe that is too simplistic. Perhaps I am not digging deep enough. There is merit in finding someone to help you as a mentor. Maybe what I am poking fun at it is the idea of hiring someone to kick your ass into gear.

Because it seems to me that if you cannot find the motivation within yourself it doesn't matter what you do or whom you hire. Change comes from internal forces.

Personally my life coach is this blog. I tend to lay out my thoughts here and then determine how to proceed. You know what I want to do. I want to clone myself so that I can find time to do more, to learn more, to experience more. Maybe I can find a life coach who knows how to make that happen.

Haveil Havalim #130

Soccer Dad is hosting Haveil Havalim #130.

Backlash Over Book on Policy for Israel

Walt and Mearsheimer's book is rightfully being criticized. A New York Times article discusses some of the issues surrounding this. I could fisk the entire article and show why their position is false, but Walt does a better job of discrediting himself than anyone else could.

Look at this excerpt from the article:

Some of the planned sites, like the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, a cultural center in Washington, would have been host of an event if Mr. Mearsheimer and Mr. Walt appeared with opponents, said Esther Foer, the executive director.

Mr. Walt said, “Part of the game is to portray us as so extreme that we have to be balanced by someone from the ‘other side.’ ” Besides, he added, when you’re promoting a book, you want to present your ideas without appearing with someone who is trying to discredit you. [Emphasis mine]

If the two men had produced a legitimate work of scholarship they wouldn't have any problem defending their work. If there was substance, they could allow it to stand on its own merit. Instead they're trying to use smoke and subterfuge to hide the failings of their work.

Their fear of discourse is quite telling.

A Short Round Up of Recent Posts

Explaining Death to Children

What Is Your Favorite Type of Blog?

Christian Domestic Discipline

Rejecting radical Islam -- one man's journey

Bonus: Blast from the Past Posts:

Shaving
The Phone Sex Surprise
Cheap Sunglasses

Rejecting radical Islam -- one man's journey

CNN has the story of a man who was born Jewish, converted to Islam and then converted to Christianity.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The path to faith often takes unexpected twists. In the case of Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, the road went through three of the world's major religions -- Judaism, Islam and Christianity -- and ultimately brought him to the FBI.

Born to Jewish parents who call themselves mystics, he grew up in what he calls the "liberal hippie Mecca" of Ashland, Oregon, a town of about 20,000 near the California border. It was in this ultraliberal intellectual environment that a young Gartenstein-Ross experimented with a radical form of Islam that eventually led him to shun music, reject women's rights and even refuse to touch dogs because he believed this was "according to God's will."

"I began to pray for the mujahedeen, for these stateless warriors who were trying to topple secular governments," he said.

His journey began in 1997, when as a junior at Wake Forest University, he began to examine his own spiritual identity after experiencing a couple of brushes with death caused by illness. "That kind of thing can cause spiritual discomfort and make you reevaluate what it is that you're living for," he told CNN in an upcoming documentary called "God's Warriors."

It is an interesting story and I really have touched upon just a brief element of it. If you read more you'll see his encounter with radical Islam and how he has become a counter terrorism consultant.

I am not really focusing on any of those things. What I am curious to learn is what made him feel the need to go through three religions. What was he searching for. What was missing in his life. What drove him on this search. He sounds like a lost soul who was just buffeted around a bit.

How many lost souls are there floating through life. Quite a few I'd imagine.

Christian Domestic Discipline

I really shouldn't make fun of the religious practices of others. There are plenty of things that people can say about my own, but this topic is just begging for commentary. So let's use their definition and go from there.

What is Christian Domestic Discipline?

A domestic discipline marriage is one in which one partner in the marriage is given authority over the other and has the means to back the authority, usually by spanking.

A Christian Domestic Discipline marriage is one that is set up according to Biblical standards; that is, the husband is the authority in the household. The wife is submissive to her husband as is fit in the Lord and her husband loves her as himself. He has the ultimate authority in his household, but it is tempered with the knowledge that he must answer to God for his actions and decisions. He has the authority to spank his wife for punishment, but in real CDD marriages this is taken very seriously and usually happens only rarely. CDD is so much more than just spanking. It is the husband loving the wife enough to guide and teach her, and the wife loving the husband enough to follow his leadership. A Christian marriage embodies true romance and a Christian man a true hero.

Though this seems unusual in today's United States, this kind of marriage has been practiced throughout history and is still practiced in many parts of the world today.

I can guarantee that some of you are going to laugh at this and some of you are going to be infuriated by this. The world is an interesting place. If there is one thing that I have learned over the years it is that you never really know what is going on behind closed doors.

The point is that the dynamics of marriage are not uniform. Each couple is going to have their way of doing things. Some people might very well get off on living this way. It does have sexual overtones to it. I'd rather not go down that path because it gives me this nightmarish image of Pat Robertson and I just cannot and will not think of him in this manner. Ok, on to the next topic, Jewish Domestic Discipline.

Explaining Death to Children

One of the earliest posts I wrote is called Death- My Son Asked Me Not to Die. It is a short post about a discussion my son and I had about death in general, as well as our own mortality. It was a little odd reading it again.

Odd because I remember the discussion that prompted my writing about it like it was yesterday. It is only three years ago, but my son has grown so much in that time it feels like it was much longer ago.

It is not unexpected or surprising to see this growth. He is an elementary school student now and is exposed to more than just his own family. He sees our losses and hears stories about the deaths of his friends loved ones too.

He understands that all creatures have a lifespan. I am not sure how complete or comprehensive that understanding is, but it is there. In just a few days we're going to have another discussion with him about death.

Next week we'll send off another member of the family. It is going to be time to say goodbye to our dog. The time and date have been set. The moment I dread is approaching. The big fellow is failing. Every time I see him I hug and smell him because I know that soon I can't.

It kills me to see him like this. He has so many little issues and the vet says that there really isn't anything that can be done to improve his quality of life. It is old age. So the decision was made that it is not fair to let him go on this way. It has raised all sorts of issues in my head, but that is a different post.

Now I am busy trying to determine how to let the kids know. I want to prepare them, but I don't really want to tell them all of the details. They are too young for that. But I can't not say something. I don't want them to be frightened and I feel badly because they love the big guy as much as the rest of us.

I feel badly because each time I see my friend I feel guilty about his situation. And I feel badly because I know that the children will be hurt. At the same time they need to learn this lesson. They need to learn about lifetimes and to understand that death is not to be feared. We shouldn't run forward to meet it early, but we shouldn't be so fearful of it either.

In the time that has passed between the first post and now there have been many other discussions of death. Many of those conversations stick out. I remember the time that my son asked me what I would do if someone killed him or his sister.

He told me that if that happened I should kill whomever killed them. Part of me smiled because I saw how protective he is of his little sister. When I am not there he'll do what he can to stand in for me.

Part of me cried because it is so sad that he knows that these things can happen. The children should be able to grow up without worrying about such things.

It was a relatively short conversation because I don't want him worrying about this kind of stuff. I reminded him that his parents and extended family will always protect him. I told him again and again that I loved him.

When he asked me why I said it three times I said that it was because I never want him to forget it. He smiled and hugged me. For a moment we stood there and time stood still.

And now here I am, a bit choked up about all of this. If I close my eyes I can hear my daughter's laughter. She loves to chase the dog. She giggles as she runs. Her smile lights up her face. It is an image that is dear to me.

But it doesn't give me the answers I am searching for. It is not going to make it any easier to say goodbye or to explain death. But, that is part of being a parent. I'll figure it out and I'll make sure that the kids still feel safe and loved.

And that is all I have to say about this....for now.

What Is Your Favorite Type of Blog?

Hello dear reader,

It is time for a new question. What is your favorite type of blog? Do you like personal, sports, politics, religious or do you prefer Random Thoughts?

Let me know. I am curious to hear what you have to say about this.

The Carnival of The Mundane Is Live

The Carnival of The Mundane Is Live and I am in it. Check out the entire carnival. It is interesting.

Weird Signs

Some of these are pretty cool.

How Men & Women Shower

How To Shower Like a Woman
Take off clothing and place it in sectioned laundry hamper according to lights and darks. Walk to bathroom wearing long dressing gown. If you see husband along the way, cover up any exposed areas. Look at your womanly physique in the mirror - make mental note to do more sit-ups/leg-lifts, etc. Get in the shower. Use face cloth, arm cloth, leg cloth, long loofah, wide loofah and pumice stone. Wash your hair once with cucumber and sage shampoo with 43 added vitamins. Wash your hair again to make sure it's clean. Condition your hair with grapefruit mint conditioner. Wash your face with crushed apricot facial scrub for 10 minutes until red. Wash entire rest of body with ginger nut and jaffa cake body wash. Rinse conditioner off hair. Shave armpits and legs. Turn off shower. Squeegee off all wet surfaces in shower. Spray mold spots with Tilex. Get out of shower. Dry with towel the size of a small country. Wrap hair in super absorbent towel. Return to bedroom wearing long dressing gown and towel on head. If you see husband along the way, cover up any exposed areas.

How To Shower Like a Man
Take off clothes while sitting on the edge of the bed and leave them in a pile. Walk naked to the bathroom. If you see wife along the way, shake wiener at her making the 'woo-woo' sound. Look at your manly physique in the mirror. Admire the size of your wiener and scratch your butt. Get in the shower. Wash your face. Wash your armpits. Blow your nose in your hands and let the water rinse them off. Fart and laugh at how loud it sounds in the shower. Spend majority of time washing privates and surrounding area. Wash your butt, leaving those coarse butt hairs stuck on the soap. Wash your hair. Make a Shampoo Mohawk. Pee. Rinse off and get out of shower. Partially dry off. Fail to notice water on floor because curtain was hanging out of tub the whole time. Admire wiener size in mirror again. Leave shower curtain open, wet mat on floor, light and fan on. Return to bedroom with towel around waist. If you pass wife, pull off towel, shake wiener at her and make the 'woo-woo' sound again. Throw wet towel on bed.

Stephen King- Accused of Defacing Books

Surprise.

Bookstore manager Bev Ellis would have baked best-selling American author Stephen King a cake had she known he was in town.

Instead, the multi-millionaire was accused of defacing a handful of books when he stopped off at a shop in the desert town of Alice Springs to sign a few copies of his latest offering.

"I was in my office when he came in and started signing books and one of our customers thought he was writing in them," said Dymocks manager Bev Ellis.

The Ginsu Knife Part II

You might recall my post on The Ginsu Knife. Well I just stumbled onto the video. So just for kicks I am providing the link to it here.

But Wait! There is more! Here is a link to another '70s video. Click on the link and enjoy H.R. Pufnstuf.

Me Playing Baba O'Riley

I am the guy with the blue face.

Do Not Disturb Sign

I can't decide what is going on in this photo. If you look at it one way it appears to suggest that they are having sex. Look at it another way and it appears that the lady cop is arresting the man below her. Or maybe it is a picture of a person getting a massage.

This should be the worst of our problems, trying to figure this out that is.

Former Mobster on Gambling & Sports

This evening I heard an interview with Michael Franzese. It is the second or third interview that I have heard him do and each time he has held my attention.

Franzese is a former member of the Mafia who speaks about organized crime and its practices/influences in various areas of society. If you click on this link and then click play on the the top button you can watch a video biography of him.

In light of recent events regarding gambling and sports Franzese has been making the rounds again. Here is a link to one of the interviews that you might find interesting. I know that I did.

And just to round it out here is a link to a bunch of YouTube videos with Franzese too.

Vocabulary Time

It is time for more obscure words for our enjoyment. My pal Robert Avrech usually asks his readers to use the words he provides in a sentence. Not me, I want you to go and sprinkle them in comments on other blogs. Don't forget to tell them where you received such a fine education.

If this works out, in no time at all we'll have a roomful of Ivy Leaguers fighting to comment here. And then again, maybe not.

One more note, if you should ever find yourself using any of these words on a game show I must ask a favor. I want 10 percent of your winnings, or at least mention the name of the blog because you know that Trebek wishes that he could be part of a fine blog like The Shack.

saudade

[Port.] yearning or longing, but more than that...

Sca·tu·ri·ent
a.

[L. scaturiens, p. pr. of scaturire gush out, from scatere to bubble, gush.]
Gushing forth; full to overflowing; effusive. [R.]

A pen so scaturient and unretentive.

Walpurgisnacht

1) the eve of May Day on which witches are held to ride to an appointed rendezvous
2) something (as an event or situation) having a nightmarish quality

barlafumble

[fr. parley, call for truce + ?] Scot. obs.
a call for a truce by one who has fallen in fighting or play; a request for a time out

Duct Tape- It Makes a Great Mask

This guy has got to be among the dumbest criminals ever.

A Look Back At August 2006

Every now and then I like to take a moment look back and see where I have been. So here for your pleasure/pain are some posts from last August.

A Secret For My Children

A Eulogy for Myself

If You Died, Who Would Take Care Of Your Children

Frum & Gay

The Ginsu Knife

Grandpa Is Still Gone

The Power of Shmooze

Irina has awarded me with The Power Of Shmooze. I am appreciative of the award and her kind thoughts. It is nice to know that people appreciate my writing. I haven't changed my thoughts about Why I Blog.

Ultimately this is still for me. This is where I vent and explore my thoughts. The Misanthrope paid a very nice compliment to me too about blogging from the heart. It was very kind, but as I said there it is not easy for me to do. As more pieces of my anonymity are stripped away it becomes far harder to dig deep and share the good and bad inside.

It is not that I cannot talk about these things with friends and family. I can, but I usually choose not to. It is not my nature to have these discussions, at least not very often. I consider myself to be a happy person, but at the same time these are my problems to deal with. There is a dark side that says that we all have shit to deal with and most people don't really care about mine so why waste time telling them.

Besides usually the things that bother me the most are not things that anyone else can solve. There are moments when I can very much relate to the lyrics in the Nine Inch Nails song, "Hurt." Johnny Cash does a great cover of it. You can check it out here.

I suppose that one of the reasons I love blogging is because it does serve as an outlet. More often than not the act of writing helps me sort things out and reach a point of equilibrium. And as I have said many times, even though I write for me, the interaction is meaningful.

The chance to engage in dialogue with you has enriched my life. It is not an exaggeration nor hyperbole. There are posts that have touched me. I have learned more about the world and my place in it. It has served as a good reminder that my life is pretty good.

Technically I am supposed to tell you more about the award and name some blogs that I think deserve the power of Shmooze. But since I made fun of the Thinking Blogger award I think that I am going to pass on that.

For now I'll say that if you are on the blogroll you probably are someone that has managed to touch me. I won't lie and say that I read every blog on there daily. There is no time for that and in truth some of you do not hold my attention, just as I am sure I do not hold everyone's attention either.

But I did want to make sure that I acknowledged Irina and thanked her because I do appreciate her kind words.

I Am With Stupid

I love it.

Hat Tip to John. Go say hello for me.

Where is My Stuff- Unintended Consequences of Moving

Many years ago my parents did their best to teach me how to get rid of things that I no longer needed. It wasn't easy because I could almost always find six reasons why I had to hold onto everything I owned. In the early years it was easy to justify everything because I really didn't have all that much.

Over time that changed. Various apartments, a wedding, children and all that come along with those things made me the proud owner of stuff. And I can even say that by the time I moved out for good I had become pretty good of ridding myself of unnecessary items. If it didn't work, have or have sentimental value it was shipped off to good will.

As I mentioned over the years I have managed to accumulate quite a bit. I am not a minimalist or filthy rich so I am careful not to get rid of everything. Also, I have a garage. It is full of all sorts of good stuff. While I cannot park a car in it, I can say that it is organized and easy to walk through.

The garage is similar to a Venus Fly Trap. It is not just beautiful, but dangerous too. There are certain boxes that were packed many years ago, shipped from place to place, finally coming to rest in the garage.

And that is one of the unintended consequences of moving. I know that some of these boxes contain items that should be shipped off for greener pastures. I know that there are things that I don't really need, but they are locked up in the boxes. Boxes that are neatly stacked against the far wall of the garage. For the past six years they have sat quietly awaiting the moment when I choose to dig into them and let them breathe clean air and sunshine again.

Another unintended consequence of moving is the loss of some important items. They are not critical, but they are meaningful which is why I never got rid of them. For example there is a book that I want to show my son. I know precisely where used to keep it. It was on the third shelf of the bookcase in my den.

I know this because once it fell off and hit me in the head. I won't tell you what I was doing or with whom, but suffice it to say that I was in my early twenties and single. I know that it made it out of that apartment because I remember smiling as I packed it. That is a handful of moves ago.

There is no question that it made it out of the apartment. The only question is where. One of these days I will dig out the boxes and rummage through them. The main reason that I haven't is a lack of time. My time is at a premium and this is a task that will take some time. I am unwilling to just ship the boxes off sight unseen. I need to go through them, but I won't say that the thought hasn't occurred to me.

Port-A-Potty- Bathroom Humor

I found this at Ezzie's blog. It was too good to pass up.

Who Wants a Degree In Homemaking

Are you confused about gender roles. Do you need help understanding your place in the world. Do you believe that dinosaurs are made up. Are you concerned that your children might believe scientific facts, such as humans come from monkeys.

If this describes you, then we have the solution. It is called turn off your brain and read the good book. Ok, that last line was a little unfair. For more on the story read below.

Southwestern Baptist, one of the nation's largest Southern Baptist seminaries, is introducing a new academic program in homemaking as part of an effort to establish what its president calls biblical family and gender roles.

It will offer a bachelor of arts in humanities degree with a 23-hour concentration in homemaking. The program is only open to women.

Coursework will include seven hours of nutrition and meal preparation, seven hours of textile design and "clothing construction," three hours of general homemaking, three hours on "the value of a child," and three hours on the "biblical model for the home and family."

Seminary officials say the main focus of the courses is on hospitality in the home - teaching women interior design as well as how to sew and cook. Women also study children's spiritual, physical and emotional development.

Yet the program is raising eyebrows among some Southern Baptists, who say a degree concentration in how to be a Christian housewife is not useful, and a waste of seminary resources.

Haveil Havalim- The Once & Future Edition

Welcome to The Once & Future Edition of Haveil Havalim. A member of our community has lost their Mum. Baruch Dayan Emet.

Click here or here for more information.

Boker Tov Boulder has a request for tehillim.

Now that we have taken care of the important stuff let's review a few things. In this edition there probably will not be any references to sex, math or drugs, but there will be many good posts to read.

That is because I received more than 126 submissions. I strongly urge you all to sift through this as there are many posts deserving of your attention.

Politics/World

Seraphic Secret notes the Jihad in Brooklyn and Hollywood Appeasement, Hollywood anti-Semitism. Gail has an interesting story about German and Austrian Jewish G.I.s in World War II.

What happens when Free Speech is Muzzled. Perhaps it is Hell on Earth. Some people are A Light Unto the Nation.

Why Do They Call It a Peace Process? Isn't it Rather Ironic. Or maybe not. EOZ continues to provide fine content such as Hamas blaming internal fighting deaths on Israel?

Here are some Cold Truths about Hot House. At Least There is No Shortage of Water. Speaking of things that go together you might try The Bureaucrats and the Vultures. Snoopy also discussed the British outbreak of Foot In Mouth.

Kesher Talk found a Mearshimer Grouper. Jewish Atheist shared Cartoon of the Day: Liberty vs. Safety. Jeremayakova shared some words from Jackie Mason.

Elisson discussed Fear. Greetings From The French Hill discussed Cold War Politics. The Seawitch found an interesting blog about an Orthodox Navy Captain. Check it out here.

You might also read Jewish Soldier Competes For Soldier of the Year. There is the Chicago way and then there are the Manhattan Rules. But we all know that both places pale besides the mighty City of Angels.

Every day it is something different. NYC Principal at Center of 'Intifada' T-Shirt Controversy Resigns

Israel

One of the things I love about Israel is that Everything Is Negotiable. Not to mention I Love an Optimist. Is Shimon Peres proposing Ethnic Cleansing. What do you do when Your Conscience Comes Knocking.

Daled Amos shows us that there is little to no difference between Hamas and Fatah. Powerline took a trip to Israel: A view from the fence. As always Carl has a number of very good posts inlcuding: Update and comment on mutiny in the IDF, A trial balloon for a 'Palestinian' state reichlet and The 'immunity' sham.

Jewlicious offers The Cold Truth about “Hot House”. Judeopundit covered the peace process with Gulf News: "Is Israel worthy of peace?" The Hashmonean covered Beilin looking to wheel & deal with Hamas..

In breaking news we learn that Olmert Announces Plan to Establish "United States of Palestine." Then again, Olmert is known for Spinning Things.

Our Greater Purpose provides "Refusal and Democracy in Israel" It is important to know The Difference Between Reward and Punishment. Or is it just Blood and Soil. Aussie Dave is Lampooning the Hamas website.

Psychotoddler reminds us that somethings happen Only in Israel. The Streets of Jerusalem presents Netzach Yisrael. Meryl is optimistic about the Israel's ability to defend itself because Ehud Barak reforms the IDF.

Do you know The Difference Between Reward and Punishment. Some things get to be tedious (Yawn) Israel criticized by so-called human rights group.

I found Koestler's Letter to be quite interesting. A Grim Milestone has been reached. Seeing the Good is something that we all hope to do.

It is always good to have a helpful Aliyah Tip, then again you could be Carving up the Center.

Ari got lost in Petach Tikva, but did he say Tefilat Ha-derech first. Do you think that TAFKA PP will be upset that this parrot got a mention in HH.

Somone tell Oleh Girl that I feel her pain. The Mad Zionist blogged about Civil War. Here is a view of another Israeli first.

Judaism

One Jerusalem writes about a Dim Future for American Jews. Sheyna received a disturbing letter. Schvach offers Shabbos Wishes.

Sammy says Cardinal Lustiger--the Ultimate Jew for Jesus. Rabbi Without A Cause demonstrates that sometimes Funerals Can Be Funny.

Barbara blogged about Madonna and Ayn Sof and The Search for God: Journey to mySelf. And now something special, This summer's ultimate averiah! Dag also offers The summer Karbanos.

One Jew two opinions? Its not funny anymore. I don't know about that. A Jewish Charter School is opening in Florida. Am Echad found a fascinating story.

Try Thinking Outside the Aron. Sometimes banning teens is not the best solution. EOZ has an amazing story: Bat Mitzvah girl donates $100K for playground in Israel.

KRG blogged about social justice. Read her post AgriProcessors: When abusing people and animals isn't enough. A headline such as Internet, Intermarriage and Pornography is bound to get a readers attention.

A Simple Jew shared a Q&A session with: Yossele Kvetch - Rebbe Nachman & Don Ross. Daf Notes submitted RETROACTIVELY NOT MARRIED AND THE CONSEQUENCES - Yevamos 90 - Daf Yomi.

Rav Fleischmann asks Is The Cup Half Blessed Or Half Cursed.

Miscellaneous

My Right Word offers a personal tale called Q-43 Was My Bus. Ari presents A Hebrew Poet in Baltimore. Ra'anana Ramblings hasn't disappeared. For that matter neither has WestBank Mama. Even the Hashmonean has returned.

Rivka wonders, Credibility, expertise, authority, esteem, respect--what am I looking for? Here is another tale of Bloggers Meeting In Person. Pillage Idiot tried to take my job with his own roundup.

What would Beckham's Bar Mitzvah be like. I Dream of Jeannie from a perspective you probably never considered before. Batya's father celebrated a big birthday.

KRG provided a Non-Cranky Entry. TherapyDoc's story reminded me of people I know all too well. It is kind of fitting to place this next entry after TherapyDoc because it offers 5 Examples of Craziness.

Life of Rubin covers the CBS response to the Big Brother controversy. So did Sammy and Yo Yenta. I don't know about you, but Jewish Pirates always grab my attention, which is why I have blogged about them.

Batya suggests you visit The Museum of Jewish Heritage. I blogged about my grandparents with a post called I Haven't Much Time Left. Irina says that these bloggers Have the Power of Schmooze.

My pal Joe Settler has a cool post here, Click and read. Click and read. With a title like this I had to include it, A Hermaphrodite Killed My Dad [in a dream].

The Simpsons in Hebrew? Click here. The Meshugannah Mommy is celebrating another blogiversary. Go wish Babka a Happy Birthday. Orieyenta is dealing with A Stone Wall.

Elie has a good baseball post here. Shira hates Haloscan. Smooth has the obituary for Raul Hilberg. There is a new scholar in town. Something Something takes us back. Read Money for Nothing.

Raggedy Mom is doing more talking. Over at Plancks's Constant he offers advice on How to Make the Perfect Hard Boiled Egg. That is a money maker. I ran a similar post months ago and it still generates a ton of traffic.

Chana blogged about heroes.

This concludes this edition of Haveil Havalim, at least until I update it for the 108th time.

Submit your blog article to the next edition of haveil havalim using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Goodbye Merv Griffin- We'll Miss You

For The Moment

I am busier than a one legged man in an ass kicking contest so there probably won't be any new posts today or tomorrow.

In the interim take a look at the drop down menus and the archives and you're bound to find something interesting.

Back later.

Miss Haveil Havalim & You'll Look Like This

See the guy above. His kallah forced him to miss the most recent edition of H.H. Clearly the two of them need a little work on Shalom Bayit issues, but that is a different story altogether.

I am hosting Haveil Havalim again this week. If you want to participate send in your posts via the Blog Carnival entry form. And even if you don't, make sure that you take a few minutes to review the best round up of the Jblogosphere.

See you on Sunday, if not before.

States I Have Visited

create your own visited states map

Thanks D.B.

Just Another Earthquake

Wouldn't you know it. Last night I went to bed earlier than normal. As I lay there tossing and turning we had a small earthquake. In years past I would have rolled over and gone back to sleep, but in those days I wasn't a father.

So I did a quick walk around the house to confirm that the children were ok and that nothing had fallen from the shelves. It took all of a couple minutes to verify this and I returned to the bedroom where I tossed and turned for a while. Not because I was nervous but because as I have mentioned many times I am a night owl and my body was awake.

A moderate earthquake rattled the Los Angeles area early Thursday, waking residents and knocking some items off shelves and walls.

The magnitude 4.5 temblor struck just before 1 a.m. about 4 miles northwest of Chatsworth, according to a preliminary report from the U.S. Geological Survey.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage, said spokesman Brian Humphrey, of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The quick jolt was felt by residents across Los Angeles County, and many reported that their houses vibrated, windows rattled and books, pictures and other items fell.

No! No! No! Eye Tattoos Are Out

July 31, 2007 -- IF you think tattoos are so over, you've got another think coming. The latest in permanent ink? Tats on your eyeball. That's right - a sharp stick in the eye.

When doctors do it, it's called corneal tattooing; but when perfectly healthy folks looking for new horizons in tattooing, piercing, scarring, etc., do it, it's nuts.

Last month, the online magazine BMEzine.com (short for Body Modification) started chronicling three people's efforts to turn the whites of their eyes blue.

To tattoo the eyes, they used two different procedures. First they used a traditional needle with ink on it, but when the ink didn't hold, they switched to a syringe that injected ink into the eye. The most recent posts indicate that all was well, with one of the guys saying it felt like he had something in his eye.

For the full story please click here.

A Crappy Haircut

Oy.

Legalize Prostitution- A Sexy Post

This afternoon I was treated to a one minute diatribe in which a man railed on about the scourge of prostitution. For a full minute he babbled and blabbered on about the evil of prostitution. Sometimes I wonder why I don't confine my time in the car to tapes and CDs because if you spend too much time listening to talk radio your brain just might turn to mush.

I sat inside my car listening to this rube spew out this misogynistic rant and came up with two responses. Call me juvenile, but my initial thought was that this is a man in dire need of a blow job or some other sort of release. The second was that I think that his energy and rage are completely misplaced.

When I become king of the world I am fairly certain that I am going to legalize prostitution. Once it is legalized it is going to be regulated and taxed by the government. In theory there will be a number of benefits from this.

1) Health
2) New Source of tax revenue
3) Reduction of crime/influence of organized crime.

Regulate prostitution and you can cut down on sexually transmitted diseases. I am not naive enough to believe that they will be eliminated, but you can see that they are dramatically reduced.

Regulate prostitution and you have a new source of tax revenue that can be applied to any number of different things- education, transportation, health care etc.

Regulate prostitution and you can cut down on the exploitation of women in the business. You can reduce the influence of organized crime and other criminals who try to make a buck through it.

I suppose that you can argue each of my points. If you want you can try to provide reasons why the logic is flawed etc. But there is one thing that I can guarantee. You cannot end it. There is a reason why it is referred to as being the oldest profession and it is not going to go away.

So if we are going to live with it we might as well make it work for us.

Ass Promotes Toilet Technology

This is one of the oddest ads I have come across.

Goodbye Hal Fishman

Hal Fishman was a local newscaster here. A staple of the nightly news you could always find him on KTLA.

Hal Fishman, the award-winning KTLA-TV Channel 5 news anchor who was a Los Angeles broadcasting fixture for nearly 50 years, died Tuesday, the station announced. He was 75.Fishman died at 3 a.m. at his Brentwood home with his family at his side. He had been hospitalized with a serious infection after collapsing at his home Aug. 1, less than a week after being diagnosed with colon cancer. On Friday, the station announced that the disease had spread to his liver.

A broadcaster who began his television career in Los Angeles in 1960, Fishman had anchored his station's10 p.m. newscast -- now called "KTLA Prime News" -- since 1975. He covered major news stories in Southern California, including the Watts riots, the assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, the Sylmar and Northridge earthquakes and the Rodney G. King beating case.

A onetime assistant professor of political science, he also served as the newscast's managing editor and commentator.

Fishman anchored his last broadcast July 30.

Click here for the full story.

A "Grim Milestone"

EOZ continues to produce excellent content. Read his post about the Grim Milestone and ask why the MSM doesn't provide any coverage about this.

Not a Tiger Or A Lion- A Liger

Read More about Hercules the Liger. And don't forget to look at the pictures here.

Last Call Before Bedtime

A glass of scotch, cool summer breeze, stars in the sky. Relaxed at last.

I Haven't Much Time Left

It is almost a cliche, but as I began writing this post about my grandparents the theme to Schindler's List began playing on my iTunes. Just a few years ago I had four grandparents, or should I say four LIVING grandparents. In the blink of an eye I am down to two. It feels a little unfair.

This past weekend my grandfather took me aside to talk to me.

"Son, at this stage of the game I don't know how much time I have left. Promise me that you'll look after your grandmother." It was hard for him to say it. I pretended not to see the teary eyes and assured him that I would.

"You know your parents are going to be gone a long time. I don't know if it is going to be the last time I get to see them."

I took grandpa's hand in my own and reminded him that he never expected to live past fifty and he is almost 93.5. For a moment we sat there in silence. I tried to think of something that I could say that would ease his mind, but there wasn't anything more that I could add.

It was hard. Most of his friends are dead, some long gone and others not so long. But still his contemporaries are disappearing at a rapid clip. Sometimes there is such sadness in his eyes. He'll tell a story about things he did and gradually trail off as he realizes that his crew isn't around any more to relive the tales.

Don't get me wrong. More often than not I see him smiling. His great-grandchildren make him beam with pride. And from time to time I can see him take pleasure in my stories.

"Jack, now you understand what your father and grandfathers did. Now you know what it means to be a family man, a provider. You understand the fear, the pleasure and the pain."

His praise means a lot to me. How can it not. I still enjoy hearing his stories and sharing my own. I feel fortunate to have had as much time with him as I have. Some of my fondest memories of him and my other grandfather have come within the last ten years or so.

They are moments in time in which we spoke as adults about our careers.
Things that happened sixty years ago still happen in the same manner as today. The challenge of being the sole provider for a family is no different than it once was. Some things transcend time. I cherish the moments I had and those that I still get.

I won't lie and say that I am not distressed by comments about how much time he has left. They don't bother me as much as when he gets upset about not being able to take care of my grandmother as he once did. I can empathize. I can imagine the frustration of not being physically able to do what I once did. I write about it now. I bitch and moan about aches and pains that don't quite go away as fast as they used to.

But, I am not 93. I can only imagine that they are more pronounced for him. To use his own line, "at this stage of the game" I want to make life as easy I can for him. So I'll do what I can to ease his mind and we'll see what happens. It makes me sad to think that one day I won't have his counsel anymore.

Blood and Bagels Do Not Mix

Remind me to be more careful cutting my bagel because blood and bagels do not mix. On a side note may I add that I continue to be dismayed by the horrific bagels that some people have concocted.

It is too upsetting to list them here, but suffice it to say that some of you use mayonnaise on your pastrami.

Facebook Reveals Secrets

A while back I created my own Facebook site, entry, whatever the hell you call it. I haven't done much with it because I just don't have the time for it. However I did spend a little time surfing through it and learned a thing or two.

Mainly I was surprised to find that many anonymous bloggers are not anonymous on Facebook. It kind of surprised me. Why would you be anonymous in one place and not the other?

Carnival of the Capitalists

Check it out over here.

A Different Kind of Spam Blocker

I have got to take my hat off to this guy.

Hat Tip to Nerd Approved.

Al Qaeda's Beaver Boy

It is not Aussie Dave's separated at birth bit, but it works. I am sorry, but it is hard to take this guy seriously. Not only does he resemble an overgrown rodent, he makes me think of Elmer Fudd. But something tells me that when his day comes he won't find himself engaged in witty banter with Bugs Bunny.

If you haven't figured out who this jackass is, he is Adam Yahiye Gadahn, formerly of California. Al-Qaeda has decided that he serves as a good mouthpiece and consequently we hear their threats through him.

(CNN) -- U.S. Embassies and American interests "at home and abroad" are prime targets for terrorist attacks, American al Qaeda member Adam Yahiye Gadahn said in a newly released al Qaeda-produced video.

"We shall continue to target you at home and abroad just as you target us at home and abroad ... ," Gadahn -- also known as Azzam the American -- says in the video provided to CNN by www.LauraMansfield.com, a Web site that analyzes terrorism.

Later in the video, which is about an hour long and takes the form of a documentary, the self-proclaimed American jihadist makes explicit threats against the United States and U.S. interests, singling out embassies and consulates"These spy dens and military command and control centers -- from which you plotted your aggression against Afghanistan and Iraq and which still provide vital moral, military, material and logistical support to the crusade -- shall continue to be legitimate targets for brave Muslims ... until and unless you heed our demands: Stop the crusade and leave the Muslims alone," he said.

If I were president I'd make a point of paying extra special attention to Al-Qaeda. It is time to remind them what it feels like to try and walk when a steel toed boot is shoved halfway up their rectum. I don't like having to feel or be this way, but if they want to see what happens when they stick their hand into the lion cage it is time to show them.

I am serious about that. They aren't playing games. They are trying to get to us. I only hope that when they come they receive the special greeting that they deserve.

Saudi Arabia, Children & Parenthood

Three recent posts are continuing to generate a lot of traffic and discussion.

Should Childbirth Be Legislated- This post is in reference to the Duggar Family who just had their 17th child. I am considering writing a separate post about this because it is an interesting topic.

Another Reason Why Saudi Arabia is A Problem- One commenter on this post suggests that the US is no better than Saudi Arabia. I took issue with this as did some others. It is worthwhile to spend time thinking about the differences and why some beliefs are morally superior.

Dennis Prager wrote a column that dealt with this. I may post it here.

Pressured Into Parenthood- A Guest Post- This is an interesting post that discusses the pressure that some people feel to have children and why it is not always a good thing.

People Have Unusual Ideas

I stumbled onto this post and couldn't decide if this person is a determined satirist or just a little out there. Look at this comment about the murder of four gorillas:

We all know the real purpose of this trip, of course- the pedophiliac UN workers want a chance to propogate with gorillas before the pious Rwandan poachers finally eliminate this deviant harlotry from the planet once and for all. If it was good enough for their grandparents, it’s good enough for the treefrogs of today. Leftists breed with gorillas, then tell us that our parents bred with gorillas, too. It’s insanity incarnate.

I, for one, salute the Rwandans and Congolese. They’re the only ones taking concrete steps to eradicate this menace for future generations. The web of Darwinist lies is about to lose a major source of spool. We are that much closer to killing this abhorrent spider once and for all, thanks to the God-fearing efforts of the African peasantry.

We who are going to church tomorrow salute you, gorilla-slayers! They who are about to fornicate and consume alcohol and drugs tomorrow will not share our sentiments. They’re forlorn over the loss of their opportunity to sate their bestial carnalities, and will likely drown their sorrows in grog. I, for one, find little pity for them. Now they’re going to have to marry human women and breed non-Darwinist children, the way God intended.

BTW, I spoke with G-d this morning and he asked me to let you know that he loves gorillas and he loves you.

Sex & Haveil Havalim

There are three words that you probably didn't expect to see in combination. Yehuda gets the blame, er, credit for that:

It was Tu Ba'av last week, our national holiday about sex. This week's Haveil Havalim is therefore all about sex, too. It's not my fault, of course; I just post what the submitters send to me. It's not like I'm obsessed with sex, or see sex where there isn't any, or anything like that.

Click here and you'll find all sorts of good posts to read.

Not Quite a Midlife Crisis- Divorce Happens

The first time a friend told me he was getting divorced was two weeks before my own wedding. It was a little disconcerting, but not totally unexpected. They got married at a really young age and it didn't take them long to find out that they had grown up and apart.

The second and third calls were a little tougher because they were more surprising. Two more couples were calling it quits. But I was careful not to say too much about their soon to be ex-wives. Just in case they reconciled I wanted to make sure that I hadn't inadvertently created any stumbling blocks between us.

It was a good thing because one of the couples stayed together. Five years later I am not sure if she knows that I am aware of just how close they came to splitting up. I'll never mention it because in my mind that conversation was just a dream I once had.

My twenty year high school reunion was held last month. I had intended to go but at the last minute decided to skip it. Some of the guys went so I heard all sorts of stories. A bunch of the forever in love couples didn't quite make it. Most of the people are starting to look a bit older. At the ten year so many of us still had a pretty youthful appearance, but now as middle age comes closer it is getting harder to hide the years.

Bodies have grown thicker as the hairlines have grown thinner. Conversations weren't solely focused upon accomplishments but those of the offspring, at least among the married couples.

There were more than one or two rumors about some of the newly single folks finding companionship with each other. When I heard the tale about one I was somewhat surprised because I wouldn't have picked them for each other.

And then I remembered, it is 20 years later. I don't know all that much about what they are doing now, let alone what they have done since we left school. In truth I don't really care. It is one of the reasons I decided not to go. I speak with virtually everyone I want to. I really didn't feel like making small talk.

But then again you could also say that in part it is because lately life has a bit more challenging than I like. I feel like everything I do is a fight. It doesn't matter what it is, I struggle with it. It is draining and emotionally exhausting. I never expected or asked for life to always be easy, but damn...Sometimes I just shake my head and wonder when I am going to get another break.

The answer is that I am going to make my own break. I believe in the old saw about our being responsible for making our own luck. I am following the same advice that I'd give my own children, but it doesn't mean that I'd like it.

Twenty years later I look back and I look forward. Twenty years ago life was nothing but potential for me. The biggest change between then and now is that when I think about twenty years from now I always include my family in my thoughts.

Twenty years since high school. I can't begin to list the changes I have been through. I wonder if the next twenty years will be filled with as many. I wonder who I'll be and what I'll be doing. A while back I figured out that it is far too hard to try and predict what life is going to be like in five years, let alone twenty so I don't spend too much time thinking about it.

Not to end this on a downer, but after what I have seen this past twenty years I wonder how many more couples I know will survive the next twenty years. If I have learned anything it is that you never really know what is going on behind closed doors.

A Wonder Pets Moment

Chalk to this up to great moments in parenting. Imagine a father and children alone in the toy section of a major retailer. Now picture the father fending off multiple requests for toys.

Got that? Great.

Picture the same father tearing his hair out as he tries to wrangle his children through the store. Suddenly a brainstorm hits and the father cries out:

"What is going to work?"

From somewhere on another aisle another father sings "Teamwork!" It is good to know that I am not the only one who has succumbed to the siren song of the Wonder Pets.

Should Childbirth Be Legislated

On my tour of the blogosphere I came across some posts that were less than complimentary about these people. One of them said that childbirth should be legislated. More on that in a moment.

Arkansas couple welcomes 17th child

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—It's a girl—again—for the Duggars. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar welcomed their 17th child, and seventh daughter, into the world Thursday.

Apparently the Duggars are more well known than I would have guessed. Discovery Health has a website devoted to them where you can learn all sorts of stuff about the family such as the mother for a total of 10.5 years of her life.

I have to admit that I have a hard time with the idea of 17 children in one family. Certainly it is not my place to tell people how to live, but there are some valid concerns about having such a large family. In my mind the two biggest are financial and emotional support.

The Discovery site says that the Duggars are debt free. That is great, but it doesn't really answer a lot of questions. Some of those are going to be lifestyle questions and as a result they are subjective.

For example, I don't know what kind of vacations they take or even if they go on any. I don't know how they clothe their children. I don't wear designer clothes and could care less, but that is important to some people.

But I have to wonder about their education. Are they all going to public school? How are they going to cover college fees? What about their health care?

Still to me there is a bigger question than these, how can the parents find time to spend with the kids. There are only so many hours in the day and many of those are taken by work/school responsibilities.

Now I am not in favor of legislating how many children a family can have. That is one of those decisions that should be left to the couple, but there does come a point where I can't help but wonder if people are really pushing the envelope a bit.

What do you think?

Satchel Paige Rules For Life

Satchel Paige has always caught my eye. He was a colorful character who I have always thought might be kind of fun to hang out with. Here is some simple advice he offered for how to live.

1 - Avoid fried meats which angry up the blood.
2 - If your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts.
3 - Keep your juices flowing by jangling around gently as you move.
4 - Go very gently on the vices such as carrying on in society - the social ramble ain't restful.
5 - Avoid running at all times.
6 - Don't look back, something might be gaining on you.

Another Reason Why Saudi Arabia is A Problem

It is so good to see that our allies are so good to their own people and to those who work for them. The following is from a story about a domestic worker who has been sentenced to death.

Varia says that because domestic workers in Saudi Arabia are not protected by labor laws, they don't have access to training, paid leave, reasonable hours or even one day off.

"They're not seen as real human beings," she says.

"It is socially accepted to lock your domestic worker inside the house. There are employers who forbid their workers to make phone calls home or write letters or talk to neighbors," says Varia, who interviewed domestic workers' employers in Saudi Arabia. "The reason they give is that, 'We paid a lot of money for this worker, and if I leave the door unlocked, she'll run away.'"

The problem is so severe that the embassies of Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Philippines in Saudi Arabia can have as many as 150 women staying in embassy shelters because of abuse suffered at the hand of their employer, says Varia

'Vegansexuals' Do It With Each Other

Must be a slow news day. The good news is that all of you Annie Potts stalkers know what she has been doing in her post showbiz life. ;)

Vegans, a new study has found, are grossed out by sex with meat eaters, and some so-called "vegansexuals" only want to roll in the alfalfa with other super strict vegetarians.

A recent study conducted in New Zealand found that vegans — notoriously finicky eaters who don't eat meat or animal byproducts, like eggs and dairy — don't like the idea of swapping spit (or anything else) with those who have been dining on flesh.

Annie Potts, a researcher at the University of Canterbury's Centre for Human-Animal Studies, noted that vegans, particularly women, found sex with meat eaters disgusting.

Vegans, she told ABC News.com from New Zealand, don't like sex with carnivores, for personal reasons: "They're attracted to people with similar interests;" ideological reasons: "they see meat eaters' bodies as being composed of the lives of others;" and sexual reasons: "they didn't want to engage in intimate sex ... because of the smells and tastes of their body fluids."

Potts sampled 157 vegans, 120 of whom were female.

I am trying very hard not to lampoon the writer or people involved in this article. Can you imagine that someone might be attracted to someone else because they have similar interests.

This line in particular just grabs me "Vegans, she told ABC News.com from New Zealand, don't like sex with carnivores..." To be honest it makes me think of bestiality. Call me depraved, but referring to a person as a carnivore triggers images of animals and or dinosaurs.

Now this next comment isn't nice, but one of my good friends dated a woman who we referred to as a T-Rex. She was quite tall, had very short arms, big teeth and was quite loud. As a matter of fact I was once there when she became upset, you should have heard her roar. It was very Jurassic Park like.

As a service to readers who are single I want to go back to the article for a moment. If you are in need of companionship go find a nice member of PETA. It seems that they believe that sex can be used to gather converts. It is an unorthodox form of kiruv. Anyway, check this out.

While PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, has long advocated people give up meat and go vegetarian, the animal rights group has its misgivings about vegans only sleeping with other vegans.

"Sex is a very effective form of outreach and activism," said Dan Shannon, a PETA spokesman, and 10-year veteran vegan, who thought meat eaters could be converted by their partners.

On the other hand, I have found that wooing carnivores can be quite pleasurable too. A nice steak dinner can go a long way.

Texas Wastes Money Again

Texas students will have four more words to remember when they head back to class this month and begin reciting the state's pledge of allegiance.

This year's Legislature added the phrase "one state under God" to the pledge, which is part of a required morning ritual in Texas public schools along with the pledge to the U.S. flag and a moment of silence.

State Rep. Debbie Riddle, who sponsored the bill, said it had always bothered her that God was omitted in the state's pledge.

"Personally, I felt like the Texas pledge had a big old hole in it, and it occurred to me, 'You know what? We need to fix that,' " said Riddle, R-Tomball. "Our Texas pledge is perfectly OK like it is with the exception of acknowledging that just as we are one nation under God, we are one state under God as well."

By law, students who object to saying the pledge or making the reference to God can bring a written note from home excusing them from participating.

What a waste of time and money. If I lived in Riddle's district I'd be quite concerned with her priorities.

Email Aggravates Me

I have a love/hate relationship with email. I love knowing that I can reach out and click someone. I am still amazed that in a matter of seconds I can contact someone on the other side of the world and receive a response. Instant gratification. It is pretty cool.

However, it is also pretty aggravating. Instant gratification has wreaked havoc upon my ability to be patient. If I don't hear back from someone with a reasonable amount of time I start to wonder if they received my email.

Maybe it was caught in their spam filter. Maybe my ISP went down and it wasn't delivered. Or maybe I sent it to the wrong address. Often times it is none of those things. Email has become so prevalent a lot of people take their time to respond. The rules of the blog dictate honesty so here is my reaction to that, it aggravates me.

Last night I received a response from an email I had sent out three weeks ago. The person who sent it hasn't been out of town. They weren't trapped beneath a heavy object or held captive. I know because they have sent out emails to a group that I am included on. All it would have taken to mollify me would have been a short response saying that they were busy and would get back to me.

But if that is the worst thing that happens to me I suppose that I can consider myself quite lucky.

Defeat Stolen From The Jaws of Victory

"Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and disaster."
General William Tecumseh Sherman

This is not the first time that I have heard or read something like this:

(IsraelNN.com) A Hizbullah man interviewed by Israel's Channel 10 TV said that the terror group was saved by the Olmert government's decision to call a cease-fire.

"The cease-fire [at the end of the Second Lebanon War] acted as a life jacket for the organization," the terrorist said. He explained that the group would have surrendered if the battles had continued for another 10 days.

He described the condition of Hizbullah's equipment and morale at the end of the fighting, saying they were running low on food, water, and arms.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni boasted before the Winograd Commission that the cease-fire was her idea, with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert saying it was one of the major accomplishments of the war.

The officer also admitted to firing missiles from inside urban centers, knowing that it would lead to civilian casualties on the Lebanese side. He explained that firing from open areas simply was not feasible, as the IAF quickly targeted any launchers operating in such areas.

Olmert and company bungled this badly. There will be another war and more people will die. Let's hope that the next time is managed better than the last.

Almost Bedtime

It is after midnight. The sole light in the house is that given off by the computer monitor. I had intended to go to bed early. Early for me means before 1 am, but the real goal is to be in bed by 11. I have to be conscious of how long I sit here. I am a night owl and it is way too easy to stay up all night.

I like the night. The quiet of the evening speaks to me. In my younger years it wasn't uncommon to find me out wandering after midnight. I have spent many hours watching the moon cross a star filled sky.

These days that happens less and less. Too many responsibilities and too little time to nap. So in just a few moments I'll wrap it up for the evening.

I'll make the rounds of the house. The doors and windows will be checked. Odds and ends will be put away or at least moved out from beneath my feet so that I don't break my neck.

Gradually I'll head to check on the children. Sometimes I just stand there and stare at them. They sleep so deeply. They haven't reached that place where they worry about paying tuition, a mortgage, health etc.

Truth be told, I sleep pretty deeply, but I miss the carefree sleep they have. Sometimes when I have trouble sleeping I'll sit next to one of their beds and just listen to them breathe. It relaxes me to see that they are oblivious to the stress. It is a father's job to protect his children in all areas.

Every now and then I'll bless them in their sleep. I like to think that they hear it and that deep in their subconscious they know that I am always vigilant about their health and well being.

It is time for this post to end. The drama is a little much for me. To be perfectly honest, what I really want to do now is go play a couple of hours of basketball and then finish up with a good schvitz, but I don't see that happening tonight.

Anyway, it is time to give the children one more kiss goodnight. See you in the morning.

A Quick Roundup

Hi Folks,

July was a busy month here. Just a short round up of some posts that I think are worth looking at again:

How Big a Risk Must I Take

Alone In The Dark

Name a Song That Makes You Cry

Almost Time To Say Goodbye

Urine For a Tale- Or Pissed Off About Peeing

Pressured into Parenthood- A Guest Post

Thoughts About Cell Phones

73 Years Of Marriage

Does Love Last?

Phew! And that was the short list.